In the recent Arsenal vs West Ham match, Mikel Arteta’s side missed a golden opportunity to climb to the top of the Premier League table. Despite registering an impressive 30 shots compared to West Ham’s mere six, Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat at home. This loss highlights a key weakness in the team’s title ambitions – the need for improvement at both ends of the pitch.
While Arsenal boasts the second-best defensive record in the league, conceding fewer goals than any other team except for leaders Liverpool, their attacking prowess leaves much to be desired. With only 36 goals scored, they have the fewest goals among the top five teams. This lack of offensive firepower is evident in their recent matches, including the West Ham game, where despite having a record-breaking 77 touches in their opponent’s box, they failed to find the back of the net.
When asked if Arsenal can win the title playing the way they did against West Ham, Arteta admitted that without improvement in both boxes, it would be difficult. While he acknowledged the positive aspects of their play, such as the record-breaking number of touches in the opponent’s box, he emphasized the importance of the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net. This frank assessment highlights the need for Arsenal to address their shortcomings in both attack and defense if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.
One of the key issues contributing to Arsenal’s offensive woes is the lack of goal contributions from young talents Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Since September, Saka has scored just one goal in the league, while Martinelli has only netted twice in all competitions since October. Arteta, when questioned about whether the pair needed rest, defended their performance, stating that they looked fresh and energetic. However, their lack of impact in front of the goal highlights the need for improvement in the final third.
Arteta acknowledged that without a spark, the team cannot generate the desired attacking output. It is this final touch, the final action that determines whether the ball find its way into the net or not. Arsenal’s inability to consistently convert their chances into goals has resulted in dropped points and missed opportunities. To compete for the title, the team must find a way to ignite their offensive firepower and convert their promising build-up play into goals.
Arsenal’s recent defeat to West Ham serves as a wake-up call for the team’s title ambitions. While their defensive record is commendable, their lack of goals is holding them back. Mikel Arteta acknowledges the need for improvement at both ends of the pitch. The struggles of young talents like Saka and Martinelli highlight the reliance on the entire team to generate attacking output. If Arsenal can address these shortcomings and find the spark needed to convert their chances, they can rekindle their title ambitions and compete with the best in the Premier League.